ITAL 202 – The Florence Experience IV
Discipline(s): Italian Language
Credits: 4
Available: fall semester 2024, spring semester 2025
Instructor: Carlo Lorini, M.A., Catia Santi, M.A., Emanuela Agostini, Ph.D., Serena Baldini, M.A.
Taught in: English
Formerly called ITAL 202 – The Florence Experience IV: Intermediate Italian II
Description
The Florence Experience IV is an interdisciplinary course that builds on three semesters of previous work. It focuses on achieving a post-intermediate level in cultural and linguistic-communicative competences. The course aims at developing such skills (both oral and written) so that students may express themselves in a wide range of subjects and interact with native speakers. It’s an interdisciplinary experience in language learning, which is possible by direct immersion in the target culture. The city of Florence will thus become a cultural laboratory through a series of on-site meetings: from interviews with Florentines to field trips and treasure hunts at the most vivacious markets in town, as well as meetings with students from the “Università di Firenze“ and with the Italian cadets from the local Scuola Militare Aeronautica Giulio Dohuet. Students will meet Francesco Rotelli and Roberto Caccavo (professional actors, directors, and playwrights). They will conduct language/culture in-class activities.
Learning Outcomes
On completion of the course, students should be able to:
– Comprehend spoken Italian in different situations (both in authentic and recorded context) related to Italian culture, habits, history and lifestyle.
– Read and understand written Italian texts, including literature texts, short newspaper articles, letters, long emails, and reports on contemporary problems.
– Create written texts such as an essay or a presentation about Italian cultural topics in relation with the students’ interests.
– Write instructions and a list of suggestions, a complaint letter or an email. Describe places and people by making comparisons and formulating hypotheses.
– Talk about present and past activities and express disappointment or communicate instructions and advice. Talk about stereotypes. Express opinions in the present and past tense.
Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor.